Pro-independence supporters take part in a march in Edinburgh, Scotland (Reuters/David Moir) / Reuters

The Scots have added a huge amount to the total UK defense capability over the years and it is extremely sad that they should even consider separating, Admiral Sir Alan West, the former First Sea Lord, told RT.

Many defense firms will
move south because the amount of money available for procurement
within an independent Scotland will be tiny, and these firms go
where the money is, which will be catastrophic for the Scottish
defense industry, Sir Alan West, who sits in the British House of
Lords as Lord West of Spithead, said.

RT:Will Britain's defense force survive
without Scotland's assets?

Sir Alan West: Of course it will survive. Should
Scotland separate the rest of the UK will still have the defense
forces. All that I would say is that if you have a single unitary
force and you split it into two parts, then it inevitably costs
money to set up the other part with all the admin and things like
that. And it ends up less efficient, so there will be less money
effectively and we are already do not spend enough on defense. We
know this from private firms, when companies join up together
they form one company with one bloc of admin, they don't split up
it up in a lot of parts.

RT:Will the UK still be helping Scotland
after its possible separation?

AW: In defense terms you are talking about would
one let something happen to Scotland. Of course we wouldn’t
because they are to the north of us and that sea area and air
space is crucially important to us all. I think if they go the
defense of our islands will be adversely affected. But of course
we would fight to look after them. Exactly the same was in the
WWII – we fought to look after Ireland, Southern Ireland did not
really help us very much, although some people came and
volunteered, but of course we defended them and they got it on
the cheap. I think that is rather unfortunate. We should all pay
our dues in terms of defending ourselves, and I feel depressed at
the thought of Scotland breaking away. I think it diminishes us
all, it is very unfortunate, in defense terms it is damaging. The
Scottish have added a huge amount to totality of the UK defense
and the UK defense capability over the years. It is extremely sad
that they should even consider separating because it will
diminish us all.

RT:Do you think the Scottish National Party
has foreseen all the possible implications of Scotland’s
independence?

AW: To be quite honest, I do not think the SNP
really thought through in detail the implications of some things,
and defense was one they have not thought through in great
detail. For example, they talk glibly of the Faslane naval base
still running and being as it is. At the moment the plan is for
8,500 men and women to work there, with the plans they have got
they will only have about 600 there. Things like building
warships - there is absolutely no way whatsoever that the UK
would build its warships in a foreign country. It just will not
happen. And it is no good Alex Salmond saying “You are trying
to bully us” when that is a fact of life, and these
implications are quite important for Scotland.

RT:In case of a yes-vote Scotland plans to
get rid of UK's nuclear deterrent. How hard will it be to move
Trident?

AW: Of course the UK government’s position has
been that they do not think this will happen, and therefore, they
are saying they are not doing work. I hope that it is not true.
If I were still the Fist Sea Lord, I’ll jolly well would have
been doing some work. The cost of re-deploying the Trident
ballistic missiles submarines and the weapons is huge,
particularly if you are trying to do it very quickly. There are
places you can send them in the long-term but would the rest of
the UK be willing to spend extra money that involved to do that,
and I am not sure they would. The move of the nuclear attack
submarines can be done relatively easily. The big jetty that
supports some is easily movable, we could tow that down to
Devonport and they can run from Devonport. But the ballistic
missiles submarines are a very different case.

RT:Do you think various companies
specializing on defense production will stay in Scotland or they
will move somewhere else?

AW: There is no doubt whatsoever. I have talked
to the heads of some big firms that have small offshoots in
Scotland, they will all move south because the amount of money
available for procurement within an independent Scotland will be
tiny, and these firms go where the money is. So there will be no
shipbuilding on the Clyde, it will do very little warship work.
The firms that do things like periscopes, or special auxiliary
machinery, the work that has been done for some Typhoon fighters
– all of that will come south. It will be a catastrophe for the
Scottish defense industry. Maybe the SNP do not mind that, maybe
they think they can do other things. But they should be honest
and point out that this is the case in terms of the defense
industry, and they should explain how they are going to absorb
those people in other forms of work. I do not think they have
done that, I do not think they are being completely honest with
the Scottish people. I was educated up there and I lived up there
for many years, I don't even get a vote. The whole thing is
extraordinary, if you ask me.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.